Book Blurb: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really a charming bit of sci-fi light space opera with an enjoyable ensemble of characters. It's been said that good sci-fi is less about predicting the future than it is about examining the present in which it's created, and this book really embodies that. At its heart, it's about a lot of very different cultures and conflicting ideologies all trying to get along -- something our own society is struggling with at the moment. This story takes the mostly optimistic view that it's possible to all get along in the end. It might not always be easy, but we can do it.

View all my reviews

Book Blurb: The Best of Connie Willis: Award-Winning Stories by Connie Willis

The Best of Connie Willis: Award-Winning Stories by Connie Willis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Connie Willis ranks near the top of my list of favorite authors. Those top spots, I've found, go to those rare and wonderful artists who quite clearly and obviously love what they're doing, and let their joy shine throughout their body of work.

One piece of advice I often hear from artists to artists for succeeding in the creative arts is to "write what you enjoy, and eventually the rest of the world will catch up." Or sentiments to that effect. And throughout this collection of stories (as with the rest of Ms. Willis's writings) you get the sense that she's doing exactly that. Her stories are fun (they tend to read like old screwball comedies) and she makes it look easy.

View all my reviews